Graeme Souness has met the Scottish Football Association and insists he wants to become the next Scotland manager.

Reports over the weekend suggested the former Scotland captain was distancing himself from the vacancy. But he said: "I have been interviewed by the SFA. The interview was conducted in a very professional manner and I want the job."

Mark McGhee and Tommy Burns are also believed to have been interviewed. Meanwhile, Billy Davies has revealed why he withdrew from the race to succeed Alex McLeish. "Scotland appointed an under-21 manager before the national job was filled suggesting to me that the new manager wouldn't have any input at lower levels. That's not how I see the job so I respectfully withdrew my name from consideration."

Davies spoke to Republic of Ireland representatives on Thursday and added: "People might say 'He's not willing to speak to the SFA but he speaks to Ireland'. However, the Irish don't know anything about me so I can understand them wanting to speak to me face to face. Gordon Smith and everybody else in Scotland knows me."

Clinton Morrison's fortuitous strike at the weekend - which earned Crystal Palace another three points towards their Championship play-off bid and dented Bristol City's own hopes of promotion - was the Irishman's 11th goal in 13 games.

League of Ireland champions Drogheda United returned to pre-season training on Saturday ahead of the 2008 campaign that begins in early March. But as players new and old assembled there was one notable absentee, left back Simon Webb.

Webb, who headed off to Brazil in November, has informed the club that he won't be returning to Ireland having decided that his immediate future lies in South America.

Former Birmingham City player Marco Randriana is recovering in hospital in France after suffering a heart attack during a Ligue Two match with his Niort club in Sedan, a Reims hospital spokesman said on Saturday.

The 24-year-old midfielder collapsed in the 23rd minute of the game. Medical staff rushed to his side and used a defibrillator.

"They probably saved his life," the spokesman said. "He recovered consciousness in the ambulance during his transfer to the Reims hospital. He is now in stable condition, but will stay under observation in the emergency ward for a few days."